New Brighton benefits from creative design competition

A forlorn expanse of rubble
and sand in the earthquake-stricken Christchurch suburb of
New Brighton has been transformed into a community creative
precinct, thanks to a competition launched by the Otago
Polytechnic-hosted initiative, Sustainable Habitat Challenge
(SHAC).

The competition sought ideas for
“micro-architecture” buildings created in less than 10
square metres, therefore avoiding the need for building
consent.

Attracting 42 entries from professionals and
design and architecture students from around New Zealand,
the competition captured the imagination of Renew Brighton,
a Christchurch community group frustrated that the
earthquake recovery effort had barely touched their
badly-affected neighbourhood.

“They looked at the
entries and said to us, ‘Let’s make some of these
happen!’” recalls the nationwide coordinator of SHAC,
Tim Bishop.

The result has been dubbed the Creative
Quarter; a funky and quirky public space that is perfect for
New Brighton. It features an outdoor dance theatre complete
with a movie screen, dance floor, shade sail, and
solar-powered lighting and music; a compact bach suitable
for use as a shop, office or recreational area; a flexible
pavilion/exhibition space; and a stunning, origami-inspired,
multi-purpose space with opening wooden panels for
walls.

Renew Brighton coordinator, Rebecca May, says the
project has had a huge impact on the local community, which
is now gathering in the Creative Quarter regularly for film
screenings and cultural events.

“Creating these
structures in a previously abandoned public space has
allowed us to see beyond what we’ve lost. Now we can focus
on the potential of other spaces in the area that lend
themselves to creative development. That’s a truly
exciting outcome for New Brighton.”

The Creative Quarter
was created during a four-day working bee that drew together
students and staff from Otago Polytechnic and Unitec,
Christchurch’s student volunteer army and The
Concert.

By building small, avoiding costly consent
processes and making use of recycled and donated materials
and volunteer labour, the entire precinct was built for
around $14,000 - much of it donated by suppliers, the
community and students themselves.

“It’s a fraction of
what is being spent on vast public buildings; it would have
cost us nearly twice that just to get power installed,”
Tim Bishop remarks. “The project has shown what can be
achieved when creative, generous people get together and
focus on what a community needs. These are all small, light,
simple structures with no concrete slabs or L shapes that
would be affected by any further earthquakes.”

The
designer of the compact bach, Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of
Design (Interiors) student, Rosalind Kirk, says it’s a
thrill that her design has been created in New Brighton.
“The idea was to create a versatile and relaxing space
inspired by the gorgeous baches we see all over New
Zealand,” she explains. “I was so surprised and happy
it was named one of the winning designs, and it’s even
more amazing that it’s actually been built. I can’t wait
to get up to Christchurch [from Dunedin] to see it.”

The competition was judged by a panel of architects from
the University of Auckland and members of the New Brighton
community in Christchurch.

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